Laser Acupuncture and Acupressure for Low Back Pain

En Chu Kong Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Low Back Pain

Treatments: Other: Laser acupuncture combined with acupressure

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04423445

ECKIRB1071102

Details and patient eligibility

About

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common, huge health and socioeconomic health problem that affects physiological functions and reduces work efficiency in nurses.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-level laser acupuncture combined with acupressure (LAA) on pain intensity, pain interference and life dysfunction in hospital nurses with LBP.

Methods: This single-blinded randomized controlled trial enrolled a convenience sample of nurses from one teaching hospital. Seventy-six participants were randomly assigned to the LAA group (n=38) receiving low-level laser acupuncture and auricular acupressure for four weeks, and a control group (n=38) receiving a similar intervention but without laser energy and acupressure. Data were collected using the Short Form of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-SF) and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) at three time points: baseline before the intervention, and Week 2 and Week 4 during the intervention.

Full description

The enrollment criteria were age more than 20 years, low back pain with visual analogue scale (LBP_VAS) ≧3, no regular treatment for low back pain within six weeks, and willing to participate in this study. Exclusion criteria were open wounds on lower back, tumor on the back, ankylosing spondylitis, previous lumbar surgery, coagulopathy or bleeding tendency, or pregnancy.

Enrollment: 76 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• age more than 20 years, low back pain with visual analogue scale (LBP_VAS) ≧3
• no regular treatment for low back pain within six weeks
• willing to participate in this study

Exclusion criteria

• open wounds on lower back
• tumor on the back
• ankylosing spondylitis
• previous lumbar surgery
• coagulopathy or bleeding tendency
• pregnancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

76 participants in 2 patient groups

Laser acupuncture combined with acupressure (LAA)

Experimental group

Description:

A 4-week LAA intervention included low-level laser acupuncture and auricular acupressure. Six acupuncture points were selected, and three auricular points. Participants received laser acupuncture on the six selected acupuncture points bilaterally twice a week for 4 weeks. A seed was taped onto each of the three points of the unilateral ear (initially, the left ear), where it remained for five days. Pressing on each of the seeds for one minute three times a day was required, but the stimulation intensity was adjusted depending on the participant's individual tolerance. After five days, the seed was removed, and a new seed was taped on the other ear.

Treatment:

Other: Laser acupuncture combined with acupressure

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Control participants received a similar intervention, but without laser energy output or acupressure.